Grow

"...grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

I had a conversation this week with a co-worker who was ready to throw the book at a student for what they interpreted as their blatant disobedience and violation of rules and expectations. Something about this particular bloodlust did not sit well with me, and so I went to bat for the student and insisted that conversation was the way forward, not punitive action. Come to find out, what was interpreted as defiance was little more than a misunderstanding. Had we acted upon this student with vengence, we would of, perhaps, done irreparable damage.

It's easy to forget that we exist to serve others and not the other way around. It's easy for us to forget that sometimes we get it wrong. It's easy for us to do damage to those we view as a threat to our standards and our way of life. How often do we need to be reminded that our methods in dealing with others do not follow the Way of Christ?

When police officers forget that the law exists for the protection of the people and when these same officers live under the fantasy that the people exist to serve them, there is a great danger to the public. In the same way, Christians who forget that they exist to serve humanity can do great damage. Do we dare ignore the example and teachings of Jesus in order to maintain the law? The Lord Jesus Christ himself said, "...the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom to many" (Mt. 20:28).

Sometimes, I see in God's people a "fundamental gulf of gracelessness" and a serious lack of knowledge of who Jesus is, what he really taught, and the life he truly calls us to live. I have seen Christianity at its worst when we lack in "the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ". I have seen Christianity at its best when we posses the grace and knowlege of who Jesus truly is.

John 1:17 says "The law came through Moses; grace and truth come through Jesus Christ." As those who claim to follow Christ, we must be careful to interpret the way we live and the way we treat others and the way we read and understand the Scriptures through the lens of Jesus Christ. We do not follow the way of the Pharisees.

We follow Christ.